Newbie Help on fungus

I have recently acquired a property with a garden and admit that I am a newbie but am very eager to learn.

I need some help advice to identify what appears to be a white fungus that is growing all over the trees and plants, and spreading through the garden to the other plants. I have included some pictures of this white fungus that is growing.

@Busy-Lizzie. Thanks. I'm from Coventry. The Lichen is spreading to other plants, having already covered three of the apple trees in the garden. They went over a rose plant and the bark went brittle. Next to it is a lovely tall tree (I have no idea of the name ) where loads and loads of butterflies hover around. This tree is beginning to show signs of this Lichen growing on it. The Lavender bush (one that I know ), the leaves et al have almost gone with this lichen grown all over it. This is spreading. What can I do to protect these plants?

@GillyL. They are lovely apples. I've noticed something is eating through them. Any tips to stop whoever is eating them?

The stuff on the apple tree is a lichen as others have said. However, even the fastest growing lichen only grows at 1cm per year, so I think the other plants you mention are covered in something else - most probably powdery mildew.

Lichen will only grow where the air is of excellent quality as it is killed by pollution so having it is a good sign.

Hi Emelia, That is indeed lichen on the very old/dead wood of the rose and lavendar (pics 1 and 5) - nothing to worry about. Lavendar needs regular pruning to prevent them getting leggy and full of old wood like that, so it's probably been neglected and is now well past its prime - might be time to let it go. The old dead wood on the rose needs cutiing off when you prune it next Spring. However, the yellow stuff on pic 2 is some kind of fungi - cut that (dead) branch off flush with the main stem now. The stems of the buddleia are just old and do go like that. To keep them tidy you should prune all stems on buddleias back hard in Spring and they will sprout fresh new growth. The specks on the apples are where a wasp, or bug has had a 'taste', or where a moth has laid an egg. Normally they are only surface blemishes, quite edible and nothing to worry about. There is a small possibility that a wasp or moth has laid eggs inside though, so when they are ripe simply peel the skin off where the marks are - if no sign of grubs, no problem.